Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/370

ofl FRU ble flavour, after having been for some time exposed to the effects 6f cold. — See likewise Vinegar. FRUIT-TREES, are such as bear fruit, namely, ArrLE, Cher- ry, Pear-trees, &c. for the par- ticular culture of which wc refer to those articles. At present, we shall confine ourselves to remarks equally applicable to orchards, and to single trees. While young, no trees should be suffered to bear a large quan- tity of fruit : and, if they abound with blossoms, the fruit should be gathered as soon as it is formed; leaving only half a dozen of the produce, to ascertain its Mze and quality. By this measure, the trees mil not only produce larger and finer fruit, but, by being kept clear, the leading and collateral branches will every year become more vigorous. Nor ought any young plant, or newly-engrafted tree, to be permitted to riln mop- headed, as it will make no pro- gress, till each branch has acquired a determined leader : for, if the growth of a tree be prevented, it will be extremely difficult to throw such energy into the system, as to enable it to grow freely. As long as fruit-trees continue in the nursery, it will be requisite to cut down the head, in order to give strength and symmetry to the stem : it will also be useful to shorten most of the grafts, lest they should be blown out by the wind : these operations likewise contribute to swell the buds. The ingenious Mr. Bucknall particularly recoirtnends, not to place the rows <i trees in a situa- tion either directly north or south, bui rather inclining tc the east, as ,in will then shine upon tin in iu the early part of the day during FRtr the spring, and thus dissipate (fie? vapours collected in the night j which, if suffered to condense, will stint the fruit in the earlier stages of its growth. He farther observe,-, that if the skatvs (or shades) be properly attended to, the trees be- ing placed in this position, will be enabled to withstand tire power of the winds ; nor will they be affect- ed by blight. The show will also protect the fruit from the autumnal winds, by which half the crop of fruit is not unfrequently blown down, before it is ripe : and, as the heads are at that season of the* year laden with fruit and leaves, many trees are torn up from the ground, or so lacerated as to be completely spoiled 5 a misfortune that might be effectually prevented by a proper disposition of the shades. In the Transactions of the Eco- nomical Society of Leipzig, we meet with a communication from the Rev. Mr.GERMuusHAUSEN-, oit the means of promoting the growth of young fruit-trees, especially in grass land. This method simply consists in spreading Jlax-skows, or the refuse of flax, after it has been com led, on the soil contiguous to the trunks of the ti - es, as far as- the roots extend ; by which means their size as well as their fertility is remarkably increased. He men- tions an instance, where an old plum-tree w Inch, being in a lan- guishing 'state, in a grass-field, was treated in the manner above direct- ed, and thus not only acquired a new bark, but produced larger^ and better-tasted fruit: the J flouts also, which formerly grew up around the stem, were prevented from sprouting forth, because the revise of the flax excluded the ac- cess of air to the mink, and in- parted